A clean up campaign is taking place in Cornwall to make sure it looks its best for the Olympic torch relay. The flame is due to leave Lands End on its journey to London in just over two weeks.

The Clean Cornwall partnership wants beaches and countryside to look tidy in time for 19th May Credit: ITV Westcountry

People are being asked to pick up litter on beaches, in the countryside and near their homes - whether they live near the torch route or not. Kits made up of litter pickers, high viz jackets and gloves are available from the Clean Cornwall partnership. You can email them at info@cleancornwall.org

Crews will also be out cleaning roadsigns and weeding along the torch route Credit: Cornwall Council

The Environment Agency has declared official drought zones in a further 17 English counties and warned the shortages could last until Christmas or beyond. It is the worst national water shortage since 1976. Read ITV News' latest report here

Drought has been declared in the West following months of low rainfall. The Environment Agency says the last 18 months have been the second driest on record. It's concerned the dry weather will affect wildlife and wetland habitats but says public water supplies should remain unaffected.

The curator of Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire says that there can be a threat to trees from overseas species.

"There are things that we don't yet have like the Asian longhorn beetle, we have things in America for instance, the Emerald Ash borer, that's responsible for probably killing 100 million trees over there, ash trees native in the woodlands and forests. So we really need to be on our toes, we need to be aware of what's going on, and this research is very much part of that work."